Zulu cuisine: the dishes and traditions

TThe history of Zulu cuisine goes back to an era where traditions and values were important elements to the Zulu identity. Zulu cuisine is still very much influenced by tradition and its celebration of history and a commitment to culture. Owing to historical agricultural methods, a lot of foods in Zulu cuisine are organic and don’t require extensive processing. Agriculture and farming have played a principle role in pre-modernist Zulu society, and these practices have greatly influenced the culture of Zulu cuisine.

The separation of meat is a common cultural practice, and meat is proportioned and separated according to age and gender. Men receive portions that are referred to as “high status portions”, which would include iNhloko (the head), usually cooked in a potjie (three-legged pot), and iSibindi (liver). The liver symbolises human bravery, much like the heart in many other cultures, and is served medium rare with salt on the side.